When the Florida Gators snipped the NCAA Tournament nets on April 7, Arizona freshman Ivan Kharchenkov understandably was not really all that plugged in.
He was still in the thick of the German pro league season, with the Bundesliga playoffs a month away from starting and, besides, it happened at about 5 a.m. his time.
“It makes it kind of difficult when the games are on at night with the time difference,” Kharchenkov said. “I know Florida is the reigning champs but I didn’t watch the game.”
Arizona Wildcats forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) cradles the ball as he’s defended by Embry-Riddle Eagles guard Brett Bush (3) in the first half of an exhibition game at McKale Center in Tucson on Oct. 27, 2025.
Neither did his Arizona teammate, senior Tobe Awaka, but for an entirely different reason: UA’s Sweet 16 loss to Duke.
“I didn’t really watch any (tournament) games,” Awaka said. “I was still kind of salty after we lost.”
Still, Awaka says he’s well aware of the challenge the Wildcats will have when they open the regular season on Monday against Florida in Las Vegas. After drubbing Embry-Riddle 113-42 in their final exhibition on Monday at McKale Center, they had six full days to get ready.
“We know who they are,” Awaka said. “They’re reigning champs for a reason and this week is going to be a really important week for us to prepare.”
Because it’s the season opener for both teams, the Gators may not be easy to scout. While Florida coach Todd Golden returns some key parts from his defending champs, the Gators lost star guard Walter Clayton Jr., and there isn’t much video to evaluate the new group.
“You do some scouting but at the end of the day, early in the year, you’re trying to help your team figure out their values, their identity,” UA coach Tommy Lloyd said. “So we’re still honing in on that and really focusing on ourselves. That will be the main course of action for the week.”
Redshirts possible
Since men’s basketball players still can’t play in a regular-season game if they want to qualify for a non-medical redshirt year, unlike football players who have up to four games, Arizona will have decisions to make with developmental players such as Mabil Mawut, Bryce James and possibly Sidi Gueye.
Arizona guard Bryce James (6) hefts up a long range jumper over Saint Mary's guard Dillan Shaw (11) during the second half of their exhibition game, Oct. 18, 2025, in Tucson.
“We’ve talked that there might be some opportunities for guys to redshirt but we have the next few days to dig into that stuff,” Lloyd said on Monday after UA’s exhibition game against Embry-Riddle.
In the exhibition, Gueye had five points and three rebounds over 11 minutes, while James had two points and three rebounds in 15 minutes and Mawut had a point in 13 minutes – but picked up three fouls, including two in his first two minutes.
Gueye had worn a knee wrap earlier in the preseason and sat out UA’s Oct. 18 exhibition against Saint Mary’s for reasons Lloyd declined to specify. When asked how he’d assess Gueye and Mawut after the Embry-Riddle game, Lloyd said they were doing great.
“They’re really contributing; they’re helping in practice every day,” Lloyd said. “Sidi was banged up to start so I’m really, really happy that he’s had a good run of health and I think that’s going to help in his development. It’s going to help our practices.”
Djopmo catches fire
After appearing in only two games last season, Arizona walk-on guard Sven Djopmo took full advantage of the 10 minutes he received Monday.
The redshirt sophomore from France had nine points, two steals, a rebound and an assist, converting both steals into layups while also making a three-point play when he drew a foul on a layup and then hit the free throw. He hit all four free throws he took.
“I don’t know what Embry-Riddle did to upset Sven,” Lloyd said jokingly after Monday’s game. “Sven did great and Sven’s a great story. He came over here and took a trip to Tucson kind of blind. Luckily, he and I crossed paths and he’s really, really worked hard.”
Arizona Wildcats guard Sven Djopmo (42) and forward Mabil Mawut (20) celebrate a basket put down against Embry-Riddle in the second half of an exhibition game at McKale Center on Monday. Arizona won 113-42.
Djopmo was around the UA program as he redshirted in 2023-24, then played against only Old Dominion and Central Michigan last season, totaling two points, a steal and a rebound.
All of UA’s walk-ons received opportunities against Embry-Riddle, with guard Jackson Francois even hitting a 3-pointer that triggered a wild celebration on the UA bench. Francois also played against only Old Dominion and Central Michigan last season.
Burries makes shooting guard watch list
Arizona freshman guard Brayden Burries was one of 20 players named to the Jerry West Award preseason watch list for the top shooting guard in college basketball.
However, Arizona’s Jaden Bradley was not among the 20 players on the Bob Cousy Award, the Naismith honor for best college point guard.
Bradley will get a chance to prove himself against nine of the other players on that list: Florida’s Boogie Fland, UCLA’s Donovan Dent, UConn’s Silas Demery, Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford, Alabama’s Labaron Philon, BYU’s Robert Wright, Houston’s Milos Uzan, Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey and Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson.
Burries, meanwhile, will play against West watch-list names such as Florida’s Xaivian Lee, BYU’s Richie Saunders, Houston’s Emanuel Sharp, and Oklahoma State’s Anthony Roy.
Championship weekend
For the first time this season, the NCAA will wrap three other championships around the Final Four.
The 2026 Final Four weekend in Indianapolis will begin with the NIT semifinals on Thursday, April 2, while on April 5 — the day between the Division I Final Four semifinals and championship game — the NCAA will hold a tripleheader of championships with Division II, Division III and NIT title games all being played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
